1
[ adjective ] having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

Synonyms

certain

Examples

"felt certain of success" "was sure (or certain) she had seen it" "was very sure in his beliefs" "sure of her friends"

Used in print

(The New York Times,...)

He 'll even bull head-on into the rules when he is sure he 's right .

(The Providence Journal...)

An unsuccessful playwright and actor , he has faith only in himself and in a talent he is not sure exists .

(William G. Pollard, Physicist and Christian....)

When the words are used , we are never sure which of the traditional meanings the user may have_in_mind , or to_what_extent his revisions and rejections of former understandings correspond to ours .

(Nathan Rapport, ""I've Been Here before!"...)

I am sure that nothing within me is capable of composing that life-like sequence , so complete in_detail , from the hodge-podge of news pictures I have seen .

(William S. Haymond, "Is Distance an Original...)

( 3 ) How can we be sure that his sense_of_touch was not profoundly disturbed by his head injury ?

2
[ adjective ] exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

Synonyms

certain

Examples

"be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through" "be sure to lock the doors"

Used in print

(Organic Gardening and Farming,...)

If you do use a cold_frame be sure that its ventilation is adequate .

Ants carry_away the seeds so better be sure that there are no ant hills nearby .

(Bonnie Prudden, "The Dancer and the Gymnast"...)

Be sure that the landing foot is brought close to the hands and that only one foot lands at_a_time .

Be sure the head drops backward so_that the child looks at the floor rather_than toward the ceiling .

(Clayton C. Barbeau, The Ikon....)

`` Be sure the man nearest you is awake .

Related terms

careful

3
[ adverb ] definitely or positively

Examples

"the results are surely encouraging" "she certainly is a hard worker" "it's going to be a good day for sure" "they are coming, for certain" "they thought he had been killed sure enough" "he'll win sure as shooting"

Used in print

(John Dos Passos, Midcentury....)

I said sure that was what I wanted her to do but she paid no attention .

(Whit Masterson, Evil Come, Evil Go....)

`` Sure , Andy , it 'll be all_right .

(Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land....)

`` Sure , I'm hungry '' !

(John Hazard Wildman, "Take It Off," The Arizona...)

The first one said , `` He sure does shake .

4
[ adjective ] certain to occur; destined or inevitable

Synonyms

certain

Examples

"he was certain to fail" "his fate is certain" "In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Franklin "he faced certain death" "sudden but sure regret" "he is sure to win"

Used in print

(The Times-Picayune, [New Orleans]...)

In an effort to fortify himself against the unforeseen upsets sure to arise in the future , Herbert_A._Leggett , banker editor of the Phoenix `` Arizona_Progress '' , reflects upon a_few of the depressing experiences of the feverish fifties .

(W. H. Gass, "The Pedersen Kid," in The...)

Pa was sure to find_out .

5
[ adjective ] capable of being depended on

Synonyms

certain

Examples

"a quick and certain remedy" "a sure way to distinguish the two" "wood dust is a sure sign of termites"

Used in print

(B. J. D. Meeuse, The Story of Pollination....)

The one sure way to tell victim and villain apart is to examine the hind_legs which in the case of the idler , Psithyrus , lack the pollen baskets - naturally !

Related terms

reliable

6
[ adjective ] physically secure or dependable

Examples

"a sure footing" "was on sure ground"

Used in print

(Harold Searles, "Schizophrenic Communication,"...)

When the therapist came to feel on sufficiently sure ground with him to ask him , `` What is that , Bill - hello or farewell '' ?

Related terms

secure

7
[ adjective ] (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence

Synonyms

trusted

Examples

"a sure (or trusted) friend"

Related terms

trustworthy

8
[ adjective ] infallible or unfailing

Examples

"a sure (or true) sign of one's commitment"

Related terms

true

9
[ adjective ] certain not to fail

Examples

"a sure hand on the throttle"

Related terms

steady

10
[ adjective ] impossible to doubt or dispute

Synonyms

indisputable

Examples

"indisputable (or sure) proof"

Related terms

certain

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